Drilling mechanism



Feb. 8, 1938. L. WATSON DRILLING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 28, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet l 15m mv 1447mm cmmmwg Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNiTED STATESPATENT ()FFICE I DRILLING MECHANISM Leston Watson, Ardmorc, Okla.

Application February 28, 1936, Serial No. 66,199

9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in drillingmechanism.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved means for drillingwhich may be readily attached to or detached from the usual pile drivingmechanism, whereby when necessary, holes may be drilled for receivingpiles in hard formations in which the piles cannot be driven.

An important object of the invention is to provide improved drillingmechanism which may be readily attached to the hammer leads of a piledriver and which is so constructed that the weight of the hammer of saiddriver may be utilized to force the drill stem downwardly, whereby thenecessity of setting up a drilling rig and spudding the stem into thehole is eliminated, which greatly reduces the cost and also results in asaving of time and labor.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved drillingmechanism which is arranged to be suspended from the hammer of a piledriver, whereby the usual control cable for the hammer may be utilizedfor raising and lowering the equipment, which obviates providingseparate cables, or suspensions for the equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means fordrilling adapted to be readily mounted on an ordinary pile driverwithout making any changes in said driver, said means including a drillstem mounted below the hammer of the driver so that said hammer may beutilized to drive the stem downwardly when the penetration into theformation of the bit at the lower end of the stem is insuflicient; therebeing a connection for conveying water tothe stem, the connection beingsuch that driving of the stem will not affect said connection.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which an example of the invention is shown, and

wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pile driver having the drillingequipment, constructed in accordance with the invention, attachedthereto,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the upper portion of thedrill stem and showing its connection with the hammer leads,

Figure 4 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of the parts shown inFigure 3,

(Cl. 255--l9) Figure 5 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken onthe line 5-5 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 66 ofFigure 3.

In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates a 5 pile driver, which may beof any desired construction. The pile driver includes the usual boom il, which extends upwardly therefrom, and also has the cable drums l2 andI3 on which cables A and B are wound. The usual hammer leads I4 10 aresecured to the outer end of the boom and these leads extend verticallyin parallel relation in the usual manner. At the outer end of the boom,the cable sheaves l5 are mounted, and the cables A and B pass thereover.The cable A extends down- 15 wardly and is known as the pile line, beingadapted to have its outer end connected to the pile to draw the sameinto driving position. The cable B passes upwardly over its sheave andhas its end fastened to the hammer l6, which is slidable verticallybetween the leads I 4. All of the above parts are of the usualconstruction and are standard equipment in pile drivers, and are,therefore, subject to variation.

In carrying out the invention, the usual follow block H, which has arecess IS in its underside, which normally fits over the upper end ofthe pile to be driven, is attached to the hammer by cables l9. It isnoted that the recess may be either round or square depending on thepiles to be driven. For purposes of description the recess will beassumed to be square. The cables l9 are secured to the sides of theblock and are formed in a loop, whereby they may be engaged over hooks20 which are secured in the side of the hammer I6. As is r clearly shownin Figure 3, such arrangement suspends the follow block I! from thelower end of the hammer l6.

A section of drill stem 2|, which has its lower end connected to theupper end of a kelley 22 by 40 a coupling 23 is located between thehammer leads and extends vertically therebetween. The upper end of thedrill stem 2! has a collar 24 threaded thereon and a split supportingcollar 25 encircles the drill stem just below the collar 24. 45 It isnoted that the collar 25 does not engage thesurface of the stem snugly,whereby said stem is rotatable therein, as will be explained. Thissupporting collar is provided with diametrically opposite radial armswhich are suitably bolted together. These arms are secured to theunderside of the follow block I! by chains 26. It is obvious that sincethe split collar 25 engages beneath the collar 24 that the drill stem 2|will be suspended from the follow block I1 by the chains. It is 55pointed out that the length of the chains is such that when the extremeupper end of the stem 2| engages the follow block, said chains will beloose. However, when the block is raised, the chains will raise thestem. As is clearly shown in Figure 4, the upper end of the drill stem2| engages in the usual recess la in the block H, and for centering saidstem within the recess which is considerably larger than the stem, acentering block, or other centering device, 2'! is supported on thecollar 2 and has its outer peripheral edge engaging the sides of saidrecess. This block serves to center the drill stem between the hammerleads M.

It is pointed out that the upper ends of the chains 26 engage over hooks26 on the block, whereby the engagement or disengagement of said chainsmay be readily accomplished. .In this way, it will be obvious that thedrill stem maybe readily connected with or disconnected from the followblock. As has been stated, a square kelley depends from the lower end ofthe'drill stem 2|, being connected therewith through the coupling 23.The lower end of the kelley extends through a rotary table 28 which maybe suitably supported in any desired manner. It is noted that all theconnections in the drill stem above the table are left-handed while theconnections below the table are right-handed. The rotary table has theusual gear teeth 29 on its underside which are arranged to be engaged bya drive pinion 30. The pinion is mounted on the shaft 3| of a suitabledrilling engine 32. It will be obvious that when the engine 32 isoperated, the pinion 30 is rotated. This pinion, in turn, rotates thetable 28 whereby a rotation is imparted to the kelley and stem. Thelower end of the kelley is attached to the drill pipe 33 which carriesthe drill bit 34. It is obvious that rotation of the kelley will impartrotation to the drill bit 34 to drill the hole,

From theabove, it will be seen that the drill stem, kelley and bit aresuspended from the ordinary follow block I! which, in turn, is suspendedby the loops I9 from the hammer |6.

After the kelley and stem have been assembled and drilling is about tostart, the hammer I6 is loweredso as to rest upon the follow block l'l.Since the upper end of the stem 2! is in engagement with the followblock .ll, it will be obvious that the weight of the hammer will beexerted on the drill stem through the kelley and onto the drillbit 34.This weight of the hammer is thus utilized to force the bit to penetratethe formation being drilled. With such arrangement, it is not necessaryto spud the drill stem downwardly into the hole, or to employ any othermeans for obtaining the proper penetration of the drill bit. Byutilizing the Weight of the hammer the additional expense of employingother means for accomplishing this purpose is obviated. Therefore, acheap and inexpensive structure is had.

For supplying water or drilling fluid to the drill bit 34 during thedrilling operation, a floating housing 35 (Figure 4) is provided. Thishousing is mounted on the drill stem 2| between the split collar 25 andthe upper end of the tool joint 23. The housing includes an elongatedsleeve 36 which surrounds the stem 2|. This sleeve has its innerdiameter somewhat larger than the outer diameter of the stem 2|, wherebyan annular space 3'! is formed between the collar and stem. A pair offlat rings 38 are located within the sleeve 36 and are spaced from eachother being welded within the sleeve. As is clearly shown in Figure 4,the flat rings 38 extend across the annular space 3? and have theirinner peripheries engaging the drill stem. It is obvious that the rings38 form wells 39 at each end of the sleeve. Suitable packing d9 isinserted in these Wells and this packing is retained therein by packingglands 4|. The packing glands are held in a tightened position bytie-bolts ll-2 which extend vertically between the flanges of thepacking glands 4|. By tightening the tie-bolts 42, it is obvious that anincreased pressure may be exerted on the packing 453. The packing servesto pack off the drill stem since it is in constant engagement with thesurface thereof. For retaining the sleeve 36 and its associate partswhich form the housing 35, in a central position between the splitcollar 25 and the tool 'joint 23, a pair of coiled equalizing springs 53are provided. One of the springs surrounds the drill stem 25! and isconfined between the split collar 25 and the upper packing gland ii. Theother spring surrounds the drill stem, being confined between the lowerpacking gland ti and the tool joint 23.

For conducting water, or other drilling fluid to the annular chamber 3'!within the sleeve 36 a flexible hose or other connection id is connectedin the side wall of the sleeve 35 opposite the annular space 3'l. Thus,it will be seen that the drilling fluid passing through the hose 64 willenter the annular space 31 around the drill stem 2|. The drill stem isprovided with diametrically extending ports 25 and these ports, as isclearly shown in Figure 6, extend at right angles to each other and alsoextend entirely through the stem 2|. The ports 45 communicate with theupper end of an axial opening which extends to the lower end of thedrill stem. Thus, it will be seen that the ports 55 establishcommunication between the annular space 31 within the housing 35, andthe axial opening or passage 46, whereby the drilling fluid which isintroduced' through the connection 4% flows through the ports 45 and tosaid passage. This drilling fluid then passes through the tool joint 23and downwardly through a vertical axial passage d'l which is formedthroughout the vertical length of the kelley 22. From the passage in thekelley, the fluid passes through the drill pipe 33 and finally to theoutlet ports 34 in the drill bit. From the above, it will be seen thatthe drilling fluid introduced through the hose connection 6 passesthrough the stem 2|, kelley 22 and finally outwardly at the bottom ofthe hole through the outlet ports in the drill bit. This drilling fluidserves to wash the cuttings and other material upwardly in the hole.

In actual operation, it is manifest that when a formation is reachedwhich is too hard for driving the ordinary piles therein, it is onlynecessary to attach the follow block to the hammer and then attach thedrill stem and kelley to the follow block by hooking the chains 2% onthe hooks 2%)" of said block. The drilling equipment is then in positionfor the drilling operation. It is an entire unit and may be readilymounted in its proper place between the leads it. The hammer i6 thenlowered on to the foilow block i'l so that the weight of the hammer isexerted against the drill stem and onto the drill bit It is thestructure of the stem 2 5, together with thehous-- 35 and its associateparts, which take the place of the usual swivel and which permits theweight of the hammer to be imposed on the drill bit. In this waysufficient weight is placed on the bit to insure a proper penetration ofsaid bit into the formation. The rotary table 28 is then operated torotate the kelley and drill bit to perform the drilling operation. Thedrilling fluid is introduced through the connection 44 and enters thedrill stem, passing downwardly through the kelley and finally outthrough the outlet port 35' in the bit. It is pointed out that thehousing 35 is non-rotatable and, therefore, the drill stem 2i willrotate therein. The packing All which is located in the ends of thesleeve 36 of said housing, is in constant engagement with the surface ofthe rotating stem 2!, and this packing serves to prevent the escape ofthe drilling fluid from. within the housing. It is obvious that when thepacking it becomes worn, it is easily replaced by merely removing thetie-bolts 42 and the packing gland M, and replacing the worn packing.

It has been found that in some cases the formation to be drilled is sohard that the weight of the hammer it? is insufficient to force the bitdownwardly so as to obtain proper penetration. In such cases, it isdesirable to unhook the loops it to separate the follow block ll fromthe hammer it. The hammer'may then be raised and its weight dropped uponthe follow block whereby the drill bit 34 is, in effect, driven into theground. In order to absorb the shock of the blow when the hammer is usedto drive the bit into the formation, the coil springs 43 which engagethe top and bottom of the housing 35 serve as shock absorbers. Thesesprings serve to pad the impact, which eliminates the danger of the blowbreaking any of the fluid-tight connections of the housing 35. Thesprings are important in that some sort of a shock-absorbing medium mustbe provided for protecting the housing 35 when the hammer is utilized todrive the drill bit into the ground.

The device, as shown and above described, is simple in structure and maybe readily suspended between the leads i i of an ordinary pile driver.It is noted that no changes need be made in the pile driver and sincethe drilling equipment is suspended from the usual hammer, it is obviousthat the cable which controls the movement of said hammer may beutilized to raise and lower the drilling equipment. It is, of course,manifest that the particular length of the drill stem or kelley issubject to variation and due to the tool joint, it is possible to drilla hole of any depth. As the drilling operation continues and the holebecomes deeper, it is possible to connect an additional section ofdrilling pipe between the lowermost pipe 33 which is shown and the lower end of the kelley 22.

The provision of a device such as is shown in the drawings eliminatesthe necessity of setting up a special drilling rig and spudding thedrill stem into the hole. The additional cost of such a rig, togetherwith the necessary time and labor involved in both setting up such a rigand removing the same, is obvious. The equipment is shown as applied toa pile driver, but it is noted that it may be attached to the end of aboom, or other support of other devices.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

i. A drilling mechanism adapted to be connected to a pile driver havinga hammer and a follow block suspended from said hammer including, adrill stem suspended from the follow block, a drill bit on the lower endof the stem, and means for rotating the stem to rotate the bit, thesuspension between the stem and block being such that the weight of thehammer may be placed on the stem to force the drill into the formation.

2. A drilling mechanism adapted to be connected to a pile driver havinga hammer and a follow block suspended from said hammer including, adrill stem suspended from the follow block, a drill bit on the lower endof the stem, means for rotating the stem to rotate the bit, thesuspension between the stem and block being such that the weight of thehammer may be placed on the stem to force the drill into the formation,and means for conducting a drilling fluid to the stem and bit while saidparts are rotating.

3. A drilling mechanism adapted to be connected to a pile driver havinga hammer a follow block detachably suspended from said hammer including,a drill stem detachably suspended from the follow block, a drill bit onthe lower end of the stem, and means for rotating the stem to rotate thebit, the suspension between the stem and block being such that theweight of the hammer may be placed on the stem to force the drill intothe formation.

4. A drilling mechanism adapted to be connected to a pile driver havinga hammer and a follow block suspended from said hammer including, adrill stem suspended from the follow block, a drill bit on the lower endof the stem, means for rotating the stem to rotate the bit, the stemhaving an axial passage and also having radial ports extending outwardlyto the surface of the stem from said passage, a floating housingsurrounding the stem and having a. fluid chamber communicating with theports, and means for supplying a drilling fluid to the chamber wherebysaid drilling fluid is conducted to the stem and bit.

5. A drilling mechanism adapted to be connected to a pile driver havinga hammer and a follow block suspended from said hammer including, adrill stem suspended from the follow block, a drill bit on the lower endof the stem, means for rotating the stem to rotate the bit, the stemhaving an axial passage and also having radial ports extending outwardlyto the sur face of the stem from said passage, 2. floating housingsurrounding the stem and having a fluid chamber communicating with theports, means for supplying a drilling fluid to the chamber whereby saiddrilling fluid is conducted to the stem and bit, the connection betweenthe hammer and block permitting the weight of the hammer to be placed onsaid stem to force the bit on its lower end into the formation, saidconnection also being detachable so that the hammer may be utilized todrive the stem and bit downwardly into the formation, and meansco-acting with the floating housing for absorbing the shock of the blowsof the hammer to prevent damage to said housing.

6. The combination with a pile driving mechanism which comprises a boomhaving hammer leads suspended therefrom and a hammer vertically movablewithin the leads for normally driving piles: a drilling mechanismincluding, a rotatable drill stem adapted to be suspended from saidhammer without changing the structure of the pile driving mechanism, anda drill bit on the lower end of said stem.

7. The combination with a pile driving mechanism which comprises a boomhaving hammer leads suspended therefrom and a hammer vertically movablewithin the leads for normally driving piles; a drilling mechanismincluding, a rotatable drill stem adapted to be suspended from saidhammer without changing the structure of the pile driving mechanism, adrill bit on the lower end of said stem, and means for conducting adrilling fluid tothe stem and bit.

8. The combination with a pile driving mechanism which comprises a boomhaving hammer leads suspended therefrom and a hammer vertically movableWithin the leads for normally driving piles; a drilling mechanismincluding, a rotatable drill stem adapted to be detachably suspendedfrom said hammer without changing the structure of the pile drivingmechanism, a drill bit on the lower end of said stem, and means forrotating the stem and 9. The combination with a pile driving mechanismwhich comprises a boom having hammer leads suspended therefrom and ahammer vertically movable within the leads for normally driving piles; adrilling mechanism including, a r0- tatable drill stem adapted to bedetachably sus-

